SVF-3021 Integrated Peace and Conflict Studies - 20 stp

The course is administrated by

Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

Type of course

The course is compulsory for Masters degree students in Peace and Conflict Transformation (MPCT).

Admission requirements

Students, who are not registered for the Master`s Degree Programme in Peace and Conflict Transformation (MPCT), must have a Bachelor`s degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences with an average grade equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system .

Course contents

The course focuses on some of the important philosophical and theoretical debates regarding violence, peace and peace research. These provide the foundation for the analysis of peace, violence, and conflict management and resolution in a historical and political perspective. The course is an introduction to the field of peace and conflict studies. It illuminates key epistemological issues and problems connected with peace research in a contemporary global context. It emphasises theoretical approaches and historical issues needed to analyse various aspects of conflict, violence and peace, as they manifest themselves in the contemporary global order. The course is divided into two distinct, but related components: (i) Peace Studies: Philosophy, Theory and Epistemology, and (ii) The Western Global Order: Philosophical, Historical and Theoretical Perspectives.Specific topics addressed include the following: Introduction to Peace Studies - nature of cross-disciplinarity, negative and positive peace, normative and positive peace; Western Global Order. (i) Rise of the early modern state, the modern state and the state, nation and nation-state building, the society of states, (ii) Introduction to political economy, Liberal and Marxist perspectives, (iii) Peace and the legal system, international law and human rights; (iv) Case studies: Social conflicts and revolutions in historical perspective, The peace of Versailles 1919, the Eritrean and Ethiopian war, 1998-2000, and Arctic Europe (Russia and Norway).

Objective of the course

Students who have successfully completed the course should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

Have an overview and understanding of the broad issues and philosophical debates underlying the field of peace and conflict studies
Become familiar with the core concepts and theories in peace and conflict studies
Have an understanding of peace and conflict studies as a distinct and an applied field of study

Analytical understanding:

Have the ability to critically review the nature and causes of inter-personal, inter-group and inter-state conflicts and the related peace-building strategies
Have the ability to critically reflect on the evolution and operations of Western political institutions and issues raised with their use in the contemporary global order
Have the ability to critically review the international political economy - ideologies and attitudes towards violent conflicts, war and peace
Have the ability to review the interplay between international law, regional bodies (EU) and peace

Skills and competences:

Capable of exploring the contextual issues underlying conflict sources, processes and transformation conflict of violent conflicts
Capable of exploring competing perspectives on violent conflicts and resolution, including non-western ways of understanding and responding to conflict
Capable of relating theoretical and methodological frameworks from a variety of disciplines to violent conflicts and peace processes at all levels of human interaction (inter-personal, national and international)
Capable of taking responsibility for ones own learning by working independently towards the realization of the course objectives

Language of instruction

All lectures, readings, assignments, seminar discussions and the final exam is in English

Teaching methods

There will be a mix of lectures and seminar discussions. The course is to be evaluated by the SSL forum each semester the course is offered as well as in an anonymous online evaluation every second time the course is offered.

Assessment

Candidates will write a home examination of 8000 words (approx. 20 pages) within two weeks on a set of given topics. An oral exam will also be conducted to assess the candidates knowledge of aspects of the submitted essay and the course readings. The oral exam may adjust the grade for the essay.Grading is on the scale of A to F, where F=Fail. The course is open for re-sit in examination in the following spring semester.

Schedule

Lectures Autumn 2012 Information meeting: Tuesday 14th of August 2012 at 09:15-10:00. Room: U-06, Lower Pavilion.
Lecture	First lecture: 15th of August 2012 at 09:15. Room U-06 Lower Pavilion. post.doc. Stian Bones post.dokt Christine Smith-Simonsen NFR-stip. Percy Otwerefoo Oware F.aman. Vidar Vambheim Magne Frostad F.aman. Peter Stuart Robinson
Seminar	First time: 22nd of August 2012 at 12:15. Room: U-06 Lower Pavilion.
Exam	One two weeks home written essay/paper with a given title + oral examination.Exam distribution: 27th of September 2012 at U-06. Exam submission: 11th of October 2012 at the Front desk, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education. Oral examination 5th-7th of November 2012.